Set-top box with self-monitoring and system and method for use of same

ABSTRACT

A set-top box with self-monitoring and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, a housing secures a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein, which are communicatively interconnected by a busing architecture. The memory is accessible to the processor, and the memory includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to detect when the television is not being utilized. Responsive thereto, the instructions cause the processor to scan channels received from the television input and generate a composite TV screen image data that may be resolved to a single TV screen image made from an assemblage of TV screen image captures corresponding to the scanned channels.

PRIORITY STATEMENT & CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Patent Application No.62/414,309, entitled “Set-Top Box with Self-Monitoring and System andMethod for Use of Same” and filed on Oct. 28, 2016 in the names ofThomas R. Miller et al.; which is hereby incorporated by reference forall purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates, in general, to set-top boxes and, in particular,to set-top boxes with self-monitoring and systems and methods for use ofthe same that address and enhance coaxial cable television networkservice and delivery of an external signal source and provided to atelevision.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Without limiting the scope of the present invention, the background willbe described in relation to televisions in the hospitality lodgingindustry, as an example. To many individuals, a television is more thanjust a display screen, rather it is a doorway to the world, both realand imaginary, and a way to experience new possibilities anddiscoveries. Consumers are demanding enhanced content in an easy-to-useplatform. As a result of such consumer preferences, a premium is placedon quality content and faultlessness are frequent differentiators indetermining the experience of guests staying in hospitality lodgingestablishments. Accordingly, there is a need for improved systems andmethods for providing enhanced content in an error free or near errorfree platform in the hospitality lodging industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would be advantageous to achieve a set-top box that would improveupon existing limitations in functionality. It would also be desirableto enable a computer-based electronics and software solution that wouldprovide enhanced content in an error free or near error free platform inthe hospitality lodging industry or in another environment. To betteraddress one or more of these concerns, a set-top box withself-monitoring and system and method for use of the same are disclosed.In one embodiment of the set-top box, a housing secures a televisioninput, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein,which are communicatively interconnected by a busing architecture. Thememory is accessible to the processor, and the memory includesprocessor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause theprocessor to detect when the television is not being utilized.Responsive thereto, the instructions cause the processor to scanchannels received from the television input and generate a composite TVscreen image data that may be resolved to a single TV screen image madefrom an assemblage of TV screen image captures corresponding to thescanned channels.

In another embodiment, the housing may include a housing-donglecombination securing the television input, the television output, theprocessor, memory, and storage, therewith. In this embodiment, theprocessor and the memory may be distributed through the housing-donglecombination. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparentfrom and elucidated with reference to the embodiments describedhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of thepresent invention, reference is now made to the detailed description ofthe invention along with the accompanying figures in which correspondingnumerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting one embodiment of a system,which includes a set-top box having self-monitoring thereon according tothe teachings presented herein;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram depicting one embodiment of a roomdepicted in FIG. 1, wherein a set-top box having self-monitoring isbeing utilized;

FIG. 3A is a wall-facing exterior elevation view of one embodiment ofthe set-top box depicted in FIG. 1 in further detail;

FIG. 3B is a television-facing exterior elevation view of one embodimentof the set-top box depicted in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3C is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a dongledepicted in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram depicting one embodiment of theset-top box presented in FIGS. 3A and 3B;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram depicting one embodiment of amanagement server presented in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram depicting one operational embodimentof the set-top box presented in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram depicting one embodiment of resolvedcomposite TV screen image data generated by the set-top box depicted inFIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram depicting one embodiment of agraphical representation of a property under analysis utilizing aself-monitoring and system according to the teachings presented herein;and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart depicting one embodiment of a method forproviding a set-top box having self-monitoring according to theteachings presented herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the making and using of various embodiments of the presentinvention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated thatthe present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts, whichcan be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways tomake and use the invention, and do not delimit the scope of the presentinvention.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, therein is depicted one embodiment of asystem for providing self-monitoring networks, which is schematicallyillustrated and generally designated 10. A management server 12 utilizesthe Internet 14 to communicate with multiple properties 16, which areindividually labeled 16-1, 16-2, . . . 16-n. Each of the properties 16may be a hospitality lodging establishment. The hospitality lodgingestablishment or, more generally, hospitality property, may be amulti-family residence, dormitory, lodging establishment, hotel,hospital, or other multi-unit environment, for example.

Each of the hospitality properties 16 includes an RF network 18 having aheadend 20, which, as illustrated includes, in one embodiment, aproperty server 22 located in communication with a terminal device 24.The property server 22 and the terminal device 24 may be at leastpartially integrated. The property server 22 assists with the managementof the particular properties 16. The terminal device 24 provides dataservices to set-top boxes 26 through distribution elements 28. Theset-top boxes 26 subscribe to the data services, which may includevarious forms of media, content, and television programming, forexample. As illustrated, each set-top box 26 is labeled 26-1, 26-2, . .. 26-n. In one implementation, each of the properties 16 may includemultiple rooms, generally labeled 30 and individually labeled 30-1,30-2, . . . , 30-n. Further, each of the set-top boxes 26 may be locatedin a room 30.

More specifically, the property headend 20, including the terminaldevice 24, may include point-to-multipoint transmission in a downstreamdirection and multipoint-to-point transmission in the upstreamdirection. Further, the terminal device 24 may be a Cable ModemTermination System (CMTS) or a video distribution modulation device, forexample. The distribution elements 28 may include various splitters andamplifiers, for example. Further, the distribution elements 28 mayprovide bi-directional RF signal distribution capability between theset-top boxes 26 and the property headend 20.

As illustrated, the set-top boxes 26 perform signal analysis as shown bysignal analysis 32. The signal analysis 32 may include an analysis ofvarious analog and digital parameters. Following the signal analysis 32,signal analysis data 34, which includes signal analysis data 34-1, 34-2,. . . , 34-n, is then forwarded to the property headend 20 and onto themanagement server 12. The signal analysis data 34 may be utilized at theproperty headend 20 or the management server 12 to provide an indicationof the health of the RF network 18. As shown, the signal analysis data34 may be transmitted from the set-top boxes 26 to the headend 20 viathe distribution elements 28 or wirelessly, for example.

Referring now to FIG. 2, as shown, by way of example and not by way oflimitation, the hospitality environment is depicted as the property 16having room 30-1 and room 30-2 respectively including the set-top box26-1 and the set-top box 26-2. With respect to the room 30-1, theset-top box 26-1 is communicatively disposed with various amenitiesassociated with the hospitality environment, including a displayillustrated as a television 36.

A connection, which is depicted as an HDMI connection 38, connects theset-top box 26-1 to the television 14. Other connections include a powercable 40 coupling the set-top box 26-1 to a power source, a coaxialcable 42 coupling the set-top box 26-1 to an external cable source, anda category five (Cat 5) cable 44 coupling the set-top box 26-1 toexternal pay-per-view source at a hotel or other lodging establishment,for example. As shown, the set-top box 26-1 includes a dongle 46providing particular technology and functionality extensions thereto.More generally, it should be appreciated that the cabling connected tothe set-top box 26-1 will depend on the environment and application, andthe cabling connections presented in FIG. 2 are depicted forillustrative purposes. Further, it should be appreciated that thepositioning of the set-top box 26-1 will vary depending on environmentand application and, with certain functionality, the set-top box 26-1may be placed more discretely behind the television 36. With respect tothe room 30-2, the set-top box 26-2 has very similar functionality tothe set-top box 26-1 described in the room 30-1.

As the monitoring of a conventional tree topology RF network can becostly and complex, in the present instance, a set-top box collects dataand performs analysis on the RF network and makes this data and analysisavailable to the headend and/or a management server, which may beremotely located. More particularly, in one implementation, the set-topboxes provide analysis of the CATV signal such as signal level,modulation errors and the network signal to noise ratio. Additionally, afull spectrum analysis may also be completed to provide visibility intoany network system-level issues. As the set-top boxes are collecting thedata and performing the analysis within a network, such as a hospitalityenvironment, the monitoring capabilities exist at different points ofthe delivery path, reaching out to the last device on the network.

In one embodiment, the set-top boxes 26-1 26-2 collect data and performthe network analysis while the television is not in use. As shown inFIG. 2, the television 36 associated with the set-top box 26-1 in theroom 30-1 is not in use as indicated by the label OFF. On the otherhand, the television 36 associated with the set-top box 26-2 in the room30-2 is in use as indicated by the label P, showing that a program isbeing viewed on the television 36 in the room 30-2. In the illustratedembodiment, the set-top box 26-1 performs the data collection andanalysis as the television 36 of the room 30-1 is not in use, however,the set-top box 26-2 does not perform any data collection and analysisas the television 36 of the room 30-2 is in use.

Referring to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3C, as used herein, set-topboxes, back boxes and set-top/back boxes may be discussed as set-topboxes. By way of example, the set-top box 26 may be a set-top unit thatis an information appliance device that generally contains set-top boxfunctionality including having a television-tuner input and displaysoutput through a connection to a display or television set and anexternal source of signal, turning by way of tuning the source signalinto content in a form that can then be displayed on the televisionscreen or other display device. Such set-top boxes are used in cabletelevision, satellite television, and over-the-air television systems,for example.

The set-top box 12 includes a housing 50 having a rear wall 52, frontwall 54, top wall 56, bottom base 58, and two sidewalls 60, 62. Itshould be appreciated that front wall, rear wall, and side wall arerelative terms used for descriptive purposes and the orientation and thenomenclature of the walls may vary depending on application. The frontwall includes various ports, ports 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, and80 that provide electro-mechanical connectors for various interfaces,including inputs and outputs. In one implementation, as illustrated, theports 64 through 80 include inputs 82 and outputs 84 and, moreparticularly, an RF input 86, an RJ45 input 88, universal serial bus(USB) input/outputs 90, an Ethernet category 5 (Cat 5) coupling 92, aninternal reset 94, an RS232 control 96, an audio out 98, an audio in100, and a debug/maintenance port 102. The front wall 54 also includesvarious inputs 82 and outputs 84. More particularly, ports 110, 112,114, and 116 include a 5V dc power connection 120, USB inputs/outputs122, an RJ45 coupling 124, and an HDMI port 126. It should beappreciated that the configuration of ports may vary with the set-topbox depending on application and context. As previously alluded to, thehousing 50 may include a housing-dongle combination including, withrespect to the dongle 46, a unit 130 having a cable 134 with a set-topbox connector 132 for selectively coupling with the set-top box 26.

Within the housing 50, a processor 140, memory 142, storage 144, theinputs 82, and the outputs 84 are interconnected by a bus architecture146 within a mounting architecture. The processor 140 may processinstructions for execution within the computing device, includinginstructions stored in the memory 142 or in storage 144. The memory 142stores information within the computing device. In one implementation,the memory 142 is a volatile memory unit or units. In anotherimplementation, the memory 142 is a non-volatile memory unit or units.Storage 144 provides capacity that is capable of providing mass storagefor the set-top box 26. The various inputs 82 and outputs provideconnections to and from the computing device, wherein the inputs 82 arethe signals or data received by the set-top box 26, and the outputs 84are the signals or data sent from the set-top box 26.

A television content signal input 148 and a television output 150 arealso secured in the housing 50 in order to receive content from a sourcein the hospitality property and forward the content, including externalcontent such as cable and satellite and pay-per-view (PPV) programming,to the television located within the hotel room. More specifically, thetelevision input 148 receives a source signal from an external source.The source signal includes multiple channels and each of the multiplechannels has periodic, sequential signal access points that permittuning initiation. A tuner 152 is configured to receive and tune achannel from the source signal. As shown, the tuner 152 includes an RFreceiver 154, a demodulator 156, and a content buffer 158 associatedwith a decryption device 160 and a decoder 162 in order to provide atuned channel. The radio frequency (RF) receiver 154 is the portion ofthe tuner that receives RF transmissions and converts the selectedcarrier frequency and its associated bandwidth into a fixed frequencythat is suitable for further processing. The demodulator 156 is anelectronic circuit that is used to recover the information content fromthe modulated carrier wave provided by the RF receiver 154. The contactbuffer 158 stores the signal and may be independent storage orassociated with or form a portion of the memory 142 or the storage 144.In one embodiment, the content buffer 158 may be a first-in-first-out(FIFO) buffer, having one per tuner, in the memory. The content buffermay hold at least one access point for the incurring signal streams whenthe buffer is assigned to the correct viewing channel, the processor mayquickly jump to the access point in the buffer and start the contentdecryption and decoding process. The decryption device 160 then decryptsthe demodulated signal before decoding at the decoder 162. It should beappreciated that although a particular architecture of tuner, RFreceiver, demodulator, decryption device and decoder is depicted, otherarchitectures are within the teachings presented herein.

A transceiver 164 is associated with the set-top box 26 andcommunicatively disposed with the bus 146. As shown, the transceiver 164may be internal, external, or a combination thereof to the housing.Further, the transceiver 164 may be a transmitter/receiver, receiver, oran antenna for example. Communication between various amenities in thehotel room and the set-top box 26 may be enabled by a variety ofwireless methodologies employed by the transceiver 164, including802.11, 3G, 4G, Edge, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, near field communications (NFC),Bluetooth low energy and Bluetooth, for example. Also, infrared (IR) maybe utilized. Further, communication between the set-top box 26 and theproperty headend 20 and/or the management server 12 may be at leastpartially enabled by the transceiver 164.

The memory 142 and storage 144 are accessible to the processor 140 andinclude processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause theprocessor 140 to execute a series of operations. Theprocessor-executable instructions detect when the television associatedwith the set-top box is not being utilized and responsive to thetelevision not being utilized, scan multiple channels received from thetelevision input 148 provided by the property headend. Theprocessor-executable instructions then cause the processor to generateTV screen image data for each of the channels. The TV screen image datamay correspond to a TV screen image capture and the TV screen image datamay include a date and time stamp and channel identification.

The processor-executable instructions also cause the processor to,responsive to the television not being utilized, analyze a parameterselected from the group consisting of analog signal levels, carrierlevel, carrier to noise ratio (CNR), signal to noise ratio (SNR), powerline hum modulation, modulation error ratio (MER), bit error rate (BER),digital signal level, frequency of lost packets, jitter, transmit time,power level, and ranging status, for example. Then the processorgenerates composite TV screen image data, which is the composite TVscreen image data resolved to a single TV screen image made from anassemblage of the TV screen image captures corresponding to thechannels. The processor-executable instructions then cause the processorto send signal analysis data relative to the composite TV screen imagedata to the property headhend and/or the management server.

Referring to FIG. 5, the management server 12 includes a processor 170,memory 172, storage 174, inputs 176, and outputs 178 that areinterconnected by a bus architecture 180 within a mounting architecture.More generally, with respect to the management server 12, a common ordistributed, for example, mounting architecture may be employed. Inother implementations, in the management server 12, multiple processorsand/or multiple buses may be used, as appropriate, along with multiplememories and types of memory. Further still, in other implementations,multiple computing devices may be provided and operations distributedtherebetween.

The processor 170 may process instructions for execution within thecomputing device, including instructions stored in the memory 172 or inthe storage 174. The memory 172 stores information within the computingdevice. In one implementation, the memory 172 is a volatile memory unitor units. In another implementation, the memory 172 is a non-volatilememory unit or units. The storage 174 provides capacity that is capableof providing mass storage for the management server 12. Various inputs176 and outputs 178 provide connections to and from the managementserver 12, wherein the inputs 176 are the signals or data received bythe management server 12, and the outputs 178 are the signals or datasent from the management server 12. In one implementation, the inputs176 and the outputs 178 provide the connectivity to the Internet 14 and,therefore, the communication with the properties 16.

The memory 172 and storage 174 are accessible to the processor 170 andinclude processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause theprocessor 170 to execute a series of operations. Theprocessor-executable instructions receive at the inputs 176 the signalanalysis data 34 from the properties 16 and thereafter, analyze thesignal analysis data 34. The processor-executable instructions may thengenerate a single TV screen image, as shown in FIG. 7, made from anassemblage of the TV screen image captures corresponding to thechannels. This presentation furnishes RF network health status insubstantially real time to permit a user or manager to select thedesired information and make optimal RF network health plans on achannel-by-channel basis within a hotel room. Additionally, theprocessor-executable instructions may cause the processor to provideproperty monitoring and optimization in the form of a database, or asshown in FIG. 8, in a graphical presentation wherein particular hotelrooms with RF network health status in substantially real time permits auser or manager to select the desired information and make optimal RFnetwork health plans on a hotel basis.

Referring now to FIG. 6, as previously discussed, the set-top box 26collects data and analyzes channels 190 when, in one implementation, thetelevision is not being utilized by a viewer. As shown, in oneembodiment, the set-top box 26 may sequentially collect data and analyzeeach of the channels with respect to signal level 192, modulation errors194, network server performance 196, or spectrum analysis 198, forexample. As shown, the set-top box is analyzing CH 1 of the channels 190with respect to the signal level 192, modulation errors 194, networkserver performance 196, and spectrum analysis 198. Based on the datacollection and analysis, the set-top box creates TV screen image data200 for the CH 1 of the channels 190. In one embodiment, the TV screenimage data 200 includes a TV screen image capture 202, which is acaptured view of the TV screen image content 204 on the CH 1 of thechannels 190. Additionally, channel identification information 206 isprovided on the screen as is a date and time stamp 208. Signal analysisinformation 210 may also be provided, which may be a signal levelstability measurement, a modulation error measurement, a visualindication of network server performance, a visual indication ofspectrum performance, or other indication of an analog or digitalparameter.

More specifically, by way example and not by way of limitation, the datacollection and analysis performed may include analog parameters anddigital parameters. The set-top box 26 may measure analog parametersincluding analog signal levels, carrier level, carrier to noise ratio(CNR), signal to noise ratio (SNR), and power line hum modulation. Theset-top box 26 may also measure digital parameters, including modulationerror ratio (MER), bit error rate (BER), digital signal level, frequencyof lost packets, and jitter. Other parameters measured may includetransmit time and associated timing adjustments that address the amountthat the terminal device 24 and the set-top box 26 must change transmittime in order for bursts to arrive at the appropriate time. Power levelrelating to the time length value (TLV) of cable modem signals may bemonitored too as well as ranging status addressing the maintenance ofcable modem signals.

FIG. 7 depicts one embodiment of composite TV screen image data 220,which as shown may be resolved to a single TV screen image 221 made froman assemblage of TV screen image captures 202, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230,232, 234, and 236 which respectively correspond to channels 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. As shown, the TV screen image data 200 includes a TVscreen image capture 202, which is a captured view of the TV screenimage content 204 on the CH 1 of the channels 190. Additionally, channelidentification information 206 is provided on the screen as is a dateand time stamp 208. Signal analysis information 210 is also provided.Also, as shown, the TV screen image data 236 includes a TV screen imagecapture 242, which is a captured view of the TV screen image content 244on the CH 9 of the channels 190.

Additionally, channel identification information 246 is provided on thescreen as is a date and time stamp 248. Signal analysis information 250may also be provided, which may be a signal level stability measurement,a modulation error measurement, a visual indication of network serverperformance, a visual indication of spectrum performance, or otherindication of an analog or digital parameter. It should be appreciatedthat the TV screen image data 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234 forrespective channels 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 may be similar to the TV screenimage data 200 of channel 1 and TV screen image data 236 of channel 9.

It should be appreciated that although the composite TV screen imagedata 220 is depicted as presenting nine channels, any number of channelsmay be presented within the single TV screen image. The exact number andlayout of channels within the single TV screen image will depend onmultiple factors, including the size of the monitor resolving thecomposite TV screen image data, the amount of data and analysis shown,and the number of channels needed to be presented. By capturing andpresenting an assemblage of the client screen images for variouschannels, an operator is provided visual confirmation of service at anylocation including the property headend, the management server or otherlocation. By way of example, with respect to TV screen image data 236for channel 9, the operator can access the TV screen image capture 242,which is the captured view of the TV screen image content 244 thatindicates distorted content and a problem requiring resolution.

Referring now to FIG. 8, in one implementation, property self-monitoringis provided in the form of a database, or as shown, in a graphicalpresentation 270 wherein particular hotel rooms with RF network statusin substantially real time permits a user or manager to select thedesired information and make optimal operations and maintenance plans.In particular, color-coding and hue assignment adds additionalunderstanding and visibility into housekeeping and maintenanceconditions as well as use. By way of example and not by way oflimitation, the hotel, which forms part of property 16-1, is graphicallydepicted 272 as having a lobby and ten floors, which are lobby, 1^(st)floor, 2^(nd) floor, etc. By collecting the substantially real time RFoperations and maintenance information from the field, i.e., from theset-top boxes 26 in each room, a map may be shown depicting all roomswith an outstanding operations and maintenance needs 274, for example.In particular, various rooms are highlighted due to operations andmaintenance issues detected on the RF network by the respective set-topboxes 26. With this information and knowledge of the issue, maintenancemay appropriately prioritize the requests, handle the requests in anoptimal order, and bring all needed equipment, or even handle thenecessary actions remotely. In this instance, the operator may click ona room to bring up the composite TV screen image data 220 to determinethat the problem with the RF network is with channel 9 as shown in FIG.7. As mentioned, it should be appreciated that other types of databasesand charts may be prepared from the substantially real time informationcollected.

FIG. 9 depicts one embodiment of a method for utilizing set-top boxes toself-monitor an RF network. At decision block 300, if the television ina particular room is not being utilized by a viewer or guest, then themethodology advances to block 302. If not, the method waits to advance.At block 302, responsive to the television not being utilized, theset-top box analyzes the CATV signal at the set-top box on achannel-by-channel basis. At block 304, data is collected by the set-topbox and signal analysis data is generated. At block 306, the set-top boxgenerates TV screen image data and then forwards the TV screen imagedata to the property headend at block 308. At decision block 310, if amanagement server is present then the methodology advances to block 312,where the signal analysis data may be sent to a cloud-based managementserver, which monitors, multiple, discrete properties. Returning todecision block 310, if no management server is present and,alternatively, following block 312, at block 316 upon request, the TVscreen image data may be resolved by a user on any type of device toprovide visual confirmation of service delivery and RF networkperformance.

The order of execution or performance of the methods and data flowsillustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwisespecified. That is, elements of the methods and data flows may beperformed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and that the methodsmay include more or less elements than those disclosed herein. Forexample, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particularelement before, contemporaneously with, or after another element are allpossible sequences of execution.

While this invention has been described with reference to illustrativeembodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in alimiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of theillustrative embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention,will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to thedescription. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claimsencompass any such modifications or embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A set-top box comprising: a housing securing atelevision input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storagetherein; a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting thetelevision input, the television output, the processor, the memory, andthe storage; the television input configured to receive a source signalfrom a remote external source over a network, the source signalincluding a plurality of channels; the television output configured toforward a fully tuned signal to a television; and the memory accessibleto the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructionsthat, when executed, cause the processor to: detect when the televisionis not being utilized, responsive to the television not being utilized,automatically scan the plurality of channels as received from the remoteexternal source over the network at the set-top box by the set-top boxwithout user input when the television is not being utilized, responsiveto the television not being utilized, generate at the set-top box TVscreen image data for each of the plurality of channels as received fromthe remote external source over the network at the set-top box withoutuser input when the television is not being utilized, the TV screenimage data corresponding to a TV screen image capture, and responsive tothe television not being utilized, generate composite TV screen imagedata without user input when the television is not being utilized, thecomposite TV screen image data being resolved to a single TV screenimage made from an assemblage of the TV screen image capturescorresponding to the plurality of channels.
 2. The set-top box asrecited in claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises ahousing-dongle combination securing the television input, the televisionoutput, the processor, memory, storage, and wireless transceivertherewith.
 3. The set-top box as recited in claim 2, wherein theprocessor and the memory are distributed through the housing-donglecombination.
 4. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the TVscreen image data further comprises a date and time stamp.
 5. Theset-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the TV screen image datafurther comprises channel identification.
 6. The set-top box as recitedin claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions furthercomprise instructions that, when executed, cause the processor tomeasure signal level stability for each of the plurality of channels. 7.The set-top box as recited in claim 6, wherein the TV screen image datafurther comprises a signal level stability measurement.
 8. The set-topbox as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructionsfurther comprise instructions that, when executed, cause the processorto measure modulation errors for each of the plurality of channels. 9.The set-top box as recited in claim 8, wherein the TV screen image datafurther comprises a modulation error measurement.
 10. The set-top box asrecited in claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructionsfurther comprise instructions that, when executed, cause the processorto analyze the network server performance for each of the plurality ofchannels.
 11. The set-top box as recited in claim 10, wherein the TVscreen image data further comprises a visual indication of networkserver performance.
 12. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, whereinthe processor-executable instructions further comprise instructionsthat, when executed, cause the processor to perform a spectrum analysisfor each of the plurality of channels.
 13. The set-top box as recited inclaim 10, wherein the TV screen image data further comprises a visualindication of spectrum performance.
 14. The set-top box as recited inclaim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions further compriseinstructions that, when executed, cause the processor to send signalanalysis data relative to the composite TV screen image data to aproperty headend.
 15. A set-top box comprising: a housing securing atelevision input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storagetherein; a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting thetelevision input, the television output, the processor, the memory, andthe storage; the television input configured to receive a source signalfrom a remote external source over a network, the source signalincluding a plurality of channels; the television output configured toforward a fully tuned signal to a television; and the memory accessibleto the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructionsthat, when executed, cause the processor to: detect when the televisionis not being utilized, responsive to the television not being utilized,automatically scan the plurality of channels as received from the remoteexternal source over the network at the set-top box by the set-top boxwithout user input when the television is not being utilized, responsiveto the television not being utilized, generate at the set-top box TVscreen image data for each of the plurality of channels as received fromthe remote external source over the network at the set-top box withoutuser input when the television is not being utilized, the TV screenimage data corresponding to a TV screen image capture, the TV screenimage data including a data and time stamp and channel identification,responsive to the television not being utilized, analyzing without userinput when the television is not being utilized, a parameter selectedfrom the group consisting of analog signal levels, carrier level,carrier to noise ratio (CNR), signal to noise ratio (SNR), power linehum modulation, modulation error ratio (MER), bit error rate (BER),digital signal level, frequency of lost packets, jitter, transmit time,power level, and ranging status, responsive to the television not beingutilized, generate composite TV screen image data without user inputwhen the television is not being utilized, the composite TV screen imagedata being resolved to a single TV screen image made from an assemblageof the TV screen image captures corresponding to the plurality ofchannels, and send signal analysis data relative to the composite TVscreen image data to a property headend.
 16. The set-top box as recitedin claim 15, wherein the housing further comprises a housing-donglecombination securing the television input, the television output, theprocessor, memory, storage, and wireless transceiver therewith.
 17. Theset-top box as recited in claim 16, wherein the processor and the memoryare distributed through the housing-dongle combination.
 18. Aself-monitoring RF network comprising: a hospitality property includingan RF network having a property headend providing data services througha plurality of distribution elements to a plurality of set-top boxes,the plurality of set-top boxes subscribing to the data services, thedistribution elements supporting bi-directional communication with theterminal device and the end point devices; each of the plurality ofset-top boxes comprising: a housing securing a television input, atelevision output, a processor, memory, and storage therein; a busingarchitecture communicatively interconnecting the television input, thetelevision output, the processor, the memory, and the storage; thetelevision input configured to receive a source signal from the propertyheadend through the distribution network, the source signal including aplurality of channels; the television output configured to forward afully tuned signal to a television; and the memory accessible to theprocessor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that,when executed, cause the processor to: detect when the television is notbeing utilized, responsive to the television not being utilized,automatically scan the plurality of channels as received from theproperty headend over the RF network at the set-top box by the set-topbox without user input when the television is not being utilized,responsive to the television not being utilized, generate at the set-topbox TV screen image data for each of the plurality of channels asreceived from the property headend over the RF network at the set-topbox without user input when the television is not being utilized, the TVscreen image data corresponding to a TV screen image capture, responsiveto the television not being utilized, generate composite TV screen imagedata without user input when the television is not being utilized, thecomposite TV screen image data being resolved to a single TV screenimage made from an assemblage of the TV screen image capturescorresponding to the plurality of channels, and send signal analysisdata relative to the composite TV screen image data to a propertyheadend; and resolving the composite TV screen image data to the singleTV screen image.
 19. The self-monitoring RF network as recited in claim18, wherein the housing further comprises a housing-dongle combinationsecuring the television input, the television output, the processor,memory, storage, and wireless transceiver therewith.
 20. Theself-monitoring RF network as recited in claim 19, wherein the processorand the memory are distributed through the housing-dongle combination.